McKay and Smith Named 2022 CCM/AHCA West First Team All-Americans

4/7/2022 1:06:00 PM

Mankato, Minn. --- Minnesota State goaltender Dryden McKay and junior center Nathan Smith have both been named AHCA/CCM West First Team All-Americans.

McKay, a Hobey Baker Hat Trick finalist and a finalist for the Mike Richter Award this year, becomes a three-time All-American with today's announcement. The Downers Grove, Ill, native owns a 38-4-0 record with a .934 save percentage and a 1.27 goals against average for the season.

McKay's 38 wins this year lead the nation and have established a NCAA DI men's hockey record for single-season victories. Minnesota's Robb Stauber (1987-88) and Michigan's Marty Turco (1995-96), with 34 wins, are the previous record-holders. McKay has established a NCAA standard for career shutouts (he has 34) and a Minnesota State record for career wins (113, which stands second all-time in NCAA history). For his four-year college career, McKay stands 113-19-4 with a 1.45 GAA, and .932 Sv% in 139 games played. McKay has been named CCHA Player of the Year, CCHA Goaltender of the Year and First Team All-CCHA in his senior season with Minnesota State.

Smith, who spent three weeks in China at the 2022 Winter Olympics with the U.S. men's national team and is this year's CCHA Forward of the Year, tallied at least one point in 15 of his last 18 games played (8-17--25) and is second in the nation and first on the Mavericks in scoring with 19-31--50 on the season.

McKay is the first player from Minnesota State to be named a three-time NCAA Division I men's hockey All-American (he was First Team in 2019-20 and Second Team in 2020-21). Other Minnesota State All-American include forwards Grant Stevenson (2002-03 West Second Team), Shane Joseph (2002-03 West Second Team), David Backes (2005-06 West Second Team), Matt Leitner (2014-15 West First Team) and C.J. Suess (2017-18 West First Team), along with defensemen Zach Palmquist (2014-15 West Second Team) and Daniel Brickley (2016-17 West Second Team).

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